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Many tourists ignore Sheffield , because [[Manchester]] is so close. Many English people also forget that Sheffield exists for some reason. This is a former steel mining community fine with Sheffielders - it means that they get to keep their home as their special secret. Sheffield has transformed itself into a vibrant student strong character of a typical 'northern' city since , and there is much to see and do following the mines closed in recent renovations to the second half of the 20th centurycity centre. It There is nicknamed 'England's largest village', as it has a very local, small-town feel to it. It claims more trees and parkland per person than any other European citybut rapidly growing Hospitalityclub community, and is built upon seven hills (cycling here is not for fueled by the faint-hearted)annual 'Bummit' hitchhiking competition organised by Sheffield University. Despite all this, Sheffield is 10 minutes' train ride away from the fourth biggest city in the UK[[Peak District]] national park, with many mountains and lakes to explore.

Many tourists ignore Sheffield== Around the city ==You will be charged for using public transport, because [[Manchester]] although it is so closesometimes possible to hop the trams. Many English people also forget that Sheffield exists Keep a lookout on the trams - if you are very lucky, one of them may break down and as a result, you are allowed to use all local public transport for free until the problem is fixed. Take care when using older maps. The city has been renovated recently and the locations of some reasonof the main roads (such as the ring road) have changed (June 2007). This is fine  Take care when reading the maps on boards in the city centre. Most are not orientated with Sheffielders - it means that North upwards. Instead, they get are orientated with the forward direction upwards, which can take some getting used to keep their home as their special secret. Sheffield has a strong character  == Hitchhiking Out Northbound (M1 to Leeds, Edinburgh) ==For heading north on the M1, you can take the bus, tram, or train to Meadowhall Interchange from different parts of the city. Here, there is a typical layby just before the on ramp to the M1 (northbound) after the Sainsbury'northern' citys petrol station.  == Hitchhiking Out Southbound (M1/A1 to Nottingham, London) & (A1 East to Cambridge, and Norwich)==There are a few ways to get onto M1 southbound from Sheffield: - From Sheffield South: Opposite the BP garage at Meadowhead roundabout there is much a layby, not ideal but OK.  - From Sheffield Centre: There is no obvious or easy way! You can get the X54 or X55 from Sheffield Centre to see and do following junction 31 of the recent renovations M1 - from which you can access A57 to join A1 east or join M1 south. You can also stay on the bus to get to village of Woodall (about one hour ride from Sheffield city centre) and walk down a farmtrack to Woodall Service Station. Counter-intuitively, this is also a route for going North (there is a footbridge over the motorway). == West, to [[Manchester]] ==[[File:manchesterroadsheffield. There jpg|thumb|350px|Photo '''1)''': Manchester Road. This photo is taken about 50 metres past SPAR supermarket. Cars using the white-signposted road on the right are going towards Manchester: either hitchhike from here, or walk along this road until you find a more suitable place.]] To go to Manchester, use the A57 road. It's a small road, but rapidly growing Hospitalityclub communityit's fast, fuelled by beautiful and easy to get a ride. Go to the annual junction of Fulwood Road and Manchester Road, shown in photo 'Bummit' hitchhiking competition organised by '1)''' and the map above. It is the A57 and is in the Broomhill district. From the city centre, Broomhill is a 30 minute walk. * First get to Sheffield University (note: NOT Sheffield Hallam University). From the cathedral in the city centre, follow the tramlines uphill for 10 minutes. You will pass various bars and restaurants (this is West Street), and then the tramlines turn a sharp corner at the university's tram stop. Walk towards the university complex (the large buildings on the 'other' side of the tramline, you can't miss them).* From Sheffield is 10 University walk west along Whitham Road for 15 minutes. It's best if you ask someone around the university for '''Broomhill''' train ride : they will point you in the right direction. This is a bit difficult to describe, so asking people is important. Check the map above.* Once you get to the shopping street in Broomhill, look for the SPAR supermarket. The hitchhiking spot is about 50 metres further along the road from there, away from the Peak District national parkcity. Alternatively, from the city centre take bus 40, 51, 52 or 120 to Broomhill (cost: £1-£1.50, 50p if you have a student card). Once you leave the bus stop ask around for the SPAR supermarket, get to the supermarket and keep walking to find the hitchhiking spot. The junction itself is not ideal for hitchhiking, being on a corner with many mountains traffic lights and lakes a box junction, where the cars waiting to turn right up the fork are not easily accessible by a pedestrian. A much better option would be to explorestart walking along the A57 Manchester Road itself for a short way. Head up past Ashdell girls school, and you've probably gone far enough here. Be careful though, in school hours, there are about a million chelsea tractors parked on the double yellows here, and you won't get seen. Further down the road there are better stopping places for the cars, however a lot of this is uphill and can be tiring.

==Getting about==You will be charged for using public transport, although it is sometimes possible Many cars drive directly to hop the tramsManchester or [[Stockport]]. Keep a lookout on Once you're in the trams - if you are very lucky, one of them may break down and as countryside hitching becomes a resultlot easier, you are allowed to use all local public transport for free until the problem so it it is fixedworthwhile accepting short lifts.

Take care with == Hitching without using older mapspublic transport == The "traditional" way to hitch out of Sheffield is on the 'Castlegate'/'Sheffield Parkway' road, just after Park Square roundabout. The However, the road system is complex and it is very difficult for drivers to stop there. * From the cathedral in the city has been renovated recently and centre, follow the locations of some tramlines downhill (you may as well walk instead of buying a tram ticket: the distance from the cathedral is about 10 minutes' walk). You'll pass by the tramstops 'Cathedral', 'Castle Square' and 'Fitzalan Square/Ponds Forge'.* The track then goes over a bridge. Go over the main roads bridge as well. Underneath you is Park Square roundabout (such as see photo '''2)''').* Take the footpaths over the ring roundabout, and you will see a main road which may be important whilst hitchhikingleading out of the city (see photo '''3) have changed (June 2007''' and the map above). Find a suitable spot on that road and hitchhike from there - cars are going to the M1 motorway and will take you in all directions except towards Manchester.

Take care when reading === Motorway service stations ===The first service station heading north on the maps in the city centreM1 is '''[[Woolley Edge services]]'''. Most are not orientated with North upwardsIt is between junctions 38 and 39. Instead, they are orientated with the forward direction upwards, which can take some getting used toIt is 30km away.

==Hitching Out==Many drivers are friendly towards hitchhikers, although they often behave defensively at The firstservice station heading south on the M1 is '''[[Woodall services]]'''. It is between junctions 31 and 30. It is 15km away.

===All directions (except [[Manchester]])Map of West Sheffield/Sheffield city centre ==={|style="widthmargin: 100%0 auto;"|[[Image:parksquaresheffield<map lat='53.jpg|thumb|350px|Photo '3809'lng='-1).4852'zoom='14': Park Square. You want to be on the other side of this roundabout, so walk over the blue tram bridge and then follow one of the blue footpaths to Castlegate/Sheffield Parkway on the other side.]]|[[Image:castlegatesheffield.jpg|thumb|350px|Photo view='0'width='2)800'height='220': Castlegate/Sheffield Parkway. This photo is on the other side of the roundabout from photo '''1)'''. The road signposted in green is the main road to the motorway. Use it.]]>

===WestAll other directions ==={|style="margin: 0 auto;"|style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"|[[File:parksquaresheffield.jpg|thumb|350px|Photo '''2)''': Park Square. You want to be on the other side of this roundabout, so walk over the blue tram bridge and then follow one of the blue footpaths to [[ManchesterCastlegate/Sheffield Parkway on the other side.]]|style==="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"|[[ImageFile:manchesterroadsheffieldcastlegatesheffield.jpg|thumb|right|400px350px|Photo '''3)''': Manchester RoadCastlegate/Sheffield Parkway. This photo is taken about 50 metres past Somerfield supermarketon the other side of the roundabout from photo '''2)'''. Cars using The road signposted in green is the white-signposted main road on to the right are going towards Manchester: either hitchhike from here, or walk along this road until you find a more suitable placemotorway. Use it.]]|}  

Go to Another options might be worth investigating buses in the junction direction of Fulwood Road Grenoside etc. and Manchester Roadtrying to get a lift up to junction 36. You'd have to hitch from a residential neighbourhood to do this, shown in photo '''3)'''. It however, so further research is the A57 and is in the Broomhill districtneeded. From The roundabout beyond Sheffield University walk west along Whitham Road for 15 minutes. ItWesnesday's best if you ask someone around the university for '''Broomhill''': they will point you in the right direction. Once you get Owlerton stadium (Hillborough) might be a good place to the shopping street in Broomhill, look for the Somerfield supermarket. The hitchhiking spot is about 50 metres further along the road from there, away from the citytry.

From the city centre, Broomhill is a 20-30 minute walk. Alternatively, from the city centre take bus 51, 52, 60 or 120 to Broomhill (cost: £1-£1.50). Once you leave the bus stop ask around Another option for the Somerfield supermarket, get to the supermarket and keep walking going North would be to find the hitchhiking spotgo via Manchester.

The Attercliffe Common/Broughton Lane junction itself is not bad another possibility for hitchhikingaccessing the M1, but a better option would although it is unlikely to be to start walking along the A57 Manchester Road itself for about 10 minutes. Further down the road there are much better stopping places for than the cars, however a lot of this is uphill and can be tiringCastlegate/Sheffield Parkway spot described above.

The waiting time is short, usually 15-45 minutes, and many cars drive directly to Manchester or {{hitchbase_city|692}}[[Stockporttrash:Sheffield]].